Thailand opposition dominates Sunday's poll, coalition talks begin to form new government
15 May 2023 10:32am
A man reads a Thai newspaper featuring front page coverage of Thailand's general election at a newsstand in Bangkok on May 15, 2023 - AFP
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With 99 per cent of the vote counted, youth-driven pro-democracy party, Move Forward came top, winning 113 seats while Pheu Thai that linked to Thailand's self-exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra won 111 seats, according to the Election Commission of Thailand’s website.
The Bhumjaithai party, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, surprisingly came in third place in the election and secured 68 seats.
Palang Pracharat Party which is the main party of the outgoing ruling coalition led by Deputy Prime Minister, Prawit Wongsuwan won 39 seats while United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, which nominated Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha as its candidate for Prime Minister, secured 23 seats and came in fifth in the election. Democrat Party led by Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit won 22 seats.
On Sunday, some 39 million or 75.14 per cent of some 52 million voters exercised their rights to elect the 500-seat house of representatives -400 seats for winning constituency candidates and 100 party seats allocated on a proportional representation basis.
With 99 per cent of the votes counted, a calculation by Reuters News Agency based on data from Election Commission suggested Move Forward Party would win the 38 party-list seats, Pheu Thai (29), Bhumjaithai (three), Palang Pracharat (two), United Thai Nation (13) and Democrat (three).
However, the two opposition parties - Move Forward Party and Pheu Thai Party are facing challenges to form new government following the constitution written by the military after 2014 coup.
Under the constitution, the junta-appointed 250 senators have a say in the selection of prime minister and form a government. The senators have never voted in favour of the opposition. To become the prime minister of Thailand, a party that wins the majority must secure at least 376 out of the total 750 votes in the two-chamber parliament.
The election results would intensify the political deal-making among the different political parties in their efforts to form a new government.
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat said it is clear that the party has earned immense support from the people around the country and is a crucial party in the formation of the new government.
In a tweet, Pita said "I will be your prime minister, whether you vote for me or not, I will serve you”.
He said the party would talk to Pheu Thai on coalition deal and remain opposed to military-backed parties.
Meanwhile, Paetongtarn Shinawatra congratulated Move Forward’s success and "happy for them”.
"We are ready to talk to Move Forward Party,” she said adding that the party with most votes will lead the coalition.
The election is the first to take place since the youth-led mass protests of 2020 and only the second since the military coup in 2014 that witnessed the removal of an elected government - BERNAMA
